Spotlight: Heavy Lungs

The band have toured the UK extensively over the past two years, demonstrating an impressive work ethic and a grassroots approach to building their already considerable fanbase.

By Olly Wareham

17 Mar 2020

min read

Three EPs deep into their career, questions are surely being raised as to when we can expect a full-length album from Bristol band Heavy Lungs. Given the furore surrounding the release of their previous efforts, and the current appetite for heavy guitar music in the UK, we can only assume that the scene is very much set for a Heavy Lungs LP.

Who?

Heavy Lungs.

What?

Ferocious four-piece punk band.

From where?

Bristol.

What’s the story?

Forming in 2017, Heavy Lungs hit the ground running by scoring early support slots with fellow Bristolians IDLES, meeting their long-time manager at their second only gig and securing their place within the city’s renowned punk scene. Last year, the band shot to a greater level of notoriety when their singer became the eponymous hero of IDLES’ pro-immigration anthem, Danny Nedelko.

IDLES connections aside, Heavy Lungs are a quality band and a hotly tipped prospect in their own right. Their sound is built around a formidable rhythm section comprised of drummer George Garratt and bassist James Minchall, whose driving energy propels the band and provides a foundation to the searing, anti-melodic guitar work of Oliver Southgate and the unapologetically heart-on-sleeve lyrics of Danny Nedelko.

The band have toured the UK extensively over the past two years, demonstrating an impressive work ethic and a grassroots approach to building their already considerable fanbase. This April will see the band hit Scandinavia for the first time on their ‘Love Is Real’ tour, with show dates in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Back here in the UK, Heavy Lungs have a busy festival season ahead of them, no doubt with numerous UK tour dates soon to be announced.

Sounds like?

A fierce concoction of breathless punk and garage rock, evoking the early years of Queens of The Stone Age, Iceage and The Fall.